Sony Black Crush on late-2014 / early-2015 BDs

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

It's too bad WB never offered replacements for those stuck with the faulty disc.

Very true. They hid the switch as much as possible, even using the same packaging, with just a new barcode sticker on the back. Once you removed the wrapping, there was literally no way to tell you had a corrected version from the packaging or the disc labeling.

[James Luckard]

Status update:

I called the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment offices in LA today. I told them about the issue, but they said their customer service 800 number was the best place to take consumer issues. I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of dealing with a generic callcenter, but did so. I spoke to someone there who was super nice and helpful, but they're only a relay center to the actual home video production department, which isn't contactable, of course.

I sent an email detailing the problems, with a link to this thread and comparison caps, and a reminder that I've successfully gotten BDs fixed before and that I won't give up.

We'll see what happens. I know I won't stop pushing, I loved THE INTERVIEW too much to accept this shoddy BD.

[philip74]

I sent them an email in regards to The Interview and got this generic answer

"Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your interest in Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) products.

In order for us to best assist you, please provide the following information:
• Where did you purchase this title, and was it a new sealed copy or a used copy?
• What is the UPC number (located on the back of the case, underneath the barcode)?
• Have you tried playing this title on any other players and, what is the make and model number of each player?
• Does your Blu-Ray player have the latest firmware update?
• Has this title successfully played before?
• Have you tried adjusting your video settings on your TV?
• Please provide the exact time on the disc when the unwatchable scenes happen.


Please also provide us with the following information as well:
• Last Name:
• Mailing Address (No PO Boxes):
• Phone Number:

Thank you for your continued patronage and for taking the time to contact us.


Regards,

May
SPHE Consumer Affairs"

It`s the transfer you amateurs!!

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by philip74

I sent them an email in regards to The Interview and got this generic answer

I wouldn't even bother with emailing. Their system is designed to deal with defective individual discs. This is a whole print run of discs that are from a faulty master, they all need to be redone. I would call the SPHE customer service line:

(800) 860-2878

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by philip74

I sent them an email in regards to The Interview and got this generic answer

"Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your interest in Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) products.

In order for us to best assist you, please provide the following information:
• Where did you purchase this title, and was it a new sealed copy or a used copy?
• What is the UPC number (located on the back of the case, underneath the barcode)?
• Have you tried playing this title on any other players and, what is the make and model number of each player?
• Does your Blu-Ray player have the latest firmware update?
• Has this title successfully played before?
• Have you tried adjusting your video settings on your TV?
• Please provide the exact time on the disc when the unwatchable scenes happen.


Please also provide us with the following information as well:
• Last Name:
• Mailing Address (No PO Boxes):
• Phone Number:

Thank you for your continued patronage and for taking the time to contact us.


Regards,

May
SPHE Consumer Affairs"

It`s the transfer you amateurs!!

I got this answer:

Thank you for your interest in Sony Pictures Home Entertainment products.

Have you tried modifying your video settings on the television? There is currently no known issue with this movie's release. If the problem persists, we'd be happy to test the movie for you.

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to assist you.

Regards,

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I got this answer:

Hahaha! Why am I not surprised? Until enough people complain, loudly enough, it will be assumed to be a problem we have caused. It will take a lot for them to admit their own BD master is distorted. But i know we can do it if we're vocal, persistent, yet polite.

[Cook]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I got this answer:

"No known problem". Are they fecking blind?! And we shouldn't have to adjust our properly calibrated TVs just because their quality control is shit! I hope you responded to that email with an appropriate level of disgust and indignation.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Cook

"No known problem". Are they fecking blind?! And we shouldn't have to adjust our properly calibrated TVs just because their quality control is shit! I hope you responded to that email with an appropriate level of disgust and indignation.

And with appropriate calm politeness, please remember that. Anyone who responds with anger will only make it 1000x more difficult for the rest of us.

[luis figo]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Status update:

I called the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment offices in LA today. I told them about the issue, but they said their customer service 800 number was the best place to take consumer issues. I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of dealing with a generic callcenter, but did so. I spoke to someone there who was super nice and helpful, but they're only a relay center to the actual home video production department, which isn't contactable, of course.

I sent an email detailing the problems, with a link to this thread and comparison caps, and a reminder that I've successfully gotten BDs fixed before and that I won't give up.

We'll see what happens. I know I won't stop pushing, I loved THE INTERVIEW too much to accept this shoddy BD.

Seems pointless mentioning that. It would have probably been better if you'd never mentioned that part to Sony as they may think you're the type of person who likes to complain about things.

Hopefully they sort out the issue.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by luis figo

Seems pointless mentioning that. It would have probably been better if you'd never mentioned that part to Sony as they may think you're the type of person who likes to complain about things.

Hopefully they sort out the issue.

Nope, I felt it was important to show that I'm not a crank, and have been successful before. From my experience getting the FRANTIC BD corrected, they'll likely dismiss me for a while as having a single faulty disc. I'm fully expecting that. It's important to show them that this is not the case, and that I won't give up till the whole run of discs are corrected. I was super polite with the guy on the phone, but I was also very firm in stating what has happened, since he has to relay everything I say to the actual people who handle this, who cannot be spoken to directly, lol.

Mentioning that also serves as a useful reminder that if they don't pay attention to me, I can go to someone over their head - in this case the directors, who have a major continuing relationship with the studio. I did it before with Polanski and will do it again in a heartbeat if it becomes necessary.

[jscoggins]

Whiplash

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[James Luckard]

More confirmation that the transfers are seriously messed up.

The HD clips from THE INTERVIEW used in the BD featurettes look perfectly normal, just like the UV version, they do NOT have the hideous black crush the main BD feature film does. I A-B'd between them, the difference is shocking. I wish I could make caps from my BD to show everyone.

There's a whole featurette about the tiger scene, for example, and in the properly transferred clips in it you can finally see what is happening

[Bates_Motel]

The second Whiplash image doesn't show up.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

The second Whiplash image doesn't show up.

Also the second image of "The Interview" comparison (first post of this thread) doesn't show up.

jscoggins used the wrong links there. This should be working >>>

Whiplash

BD:

[Show spoiler]

Digital Copy:

[Show spoiler]

The Interview

BD:

[Show spoiler]

VUDU UV:

[Show spoiler]

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by amoergosum

Also the second image of "The Interview" comparison (first post of this thread) doesn't show up.

jscoggins used the wrong links there. This should be working >>>

nope, no luck. the links are there in the text, I can see them when I hit reply, but they don't show up

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

nope, no luck. the links are there in the text, I can see them when I hit reply, but they don't show up

Weird...it works here.

Well, here are manual links >>>


Whiplash

BD:

click

Digital Copy:

click


The Interview

BD:

click

VUDU UV:

click

[jscoggins]

The images show up for me. What browsers are you guys using?

Originally Posted by James Luckard

More confirmation that the transfers are seriously messed up.

The HD clips from THE INTERVIEW used in the BD featurettes look perfectly normal, just like the UV version, they do NOT have the hideous black crush the main BD feature film does. I A-B'd between them, the difference is shocking. I wish I could make caps from my BD to show everyone.

There's a whole featurette about the tiger scene, for example, and in the properly transferred clips in it you can finally see what is happening

This is like Vehicle 19. The movie is zoomed and cropped from 2.40:1 to 1.78:1. In the featurette on the BD, the clips are presented in their original 2.40:1 ratio.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by amoergosum

Weird...it works here.

Well, here are manual links >>>


Whiplash

BD:

click

Digital Copy:

click

Okay, government health warning - I'm viewing these on my lapdog screen.

At first I thought there was a big problem with the Blu-ray version - his black shirt, jacket and the background all morph into one and it's like the floating faces on the front of With the Beatles.

But you know how laptop screens need to be viewed dead-on, limited viewing angle? Well, when I titled the screen to get it just right the Blu-ray Disc looked dark but very good - all of the detail was visible. But the other version was a mid-to-dark grey with no real black at all, and areas of awful blocking.

Maybe the Blu-ray is done 'more correctly', with the view that most people investing in a disc will be expecting a spot-on presentation, whilst those downloading will possibly be viewing on a tablet on the train?

As I say, that's just a quick view on a far from perfect display, in far from perfect conditions, but my current thoughts are that the Blu-ray is right and the download too bright.

This only applies to the caps of Whiplash.

Steve W

[welcometothepartypal]

I have a stupid question. Since I'm learning all these tech lingo's "Black Crush", "Edge Enhancement" etc... since joining this site. Does ALIEN vs PREDATOR suffer from black crush too, or was it just shot really dark?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by welcometothepartypal

I have a stupid question. Since I'm learning all these tech lingo's "Black Crush", "Edge Enhancement" etc... since joining this site. Does ALIEN vs PREDATOR suffer from black crush too, or was it just shot really dark?

AvP does have some black crush, but not near as much as some other titles.